"1.113 The Commission has no doubt that clerical child sexual abuse was covered up by the Archdiocese of Dublin and other Church authorities over much of the period covered by the Commission‟s remit. The structures and rules of the Catholic Church facilitated that cover-up. The State authorities facilitated the cover up by not fulfilling their responsibilities to ensure that the law was applied equally to all and allowing the Church institutions to be beyond the reach of the normal law enforcement processes. The welfare of children, which should have been the first priority, was not even a factor to be considered in the early stages. Instead the focus was on the avoidance of scandal and the preservation of the good name, status and assets of the institution and of what the institution regarded as its most important members – the priests. In the mid 1990s, a light began to be shone on the scandal and the cover up. Gradually, the story has unfolded. It is the responsibility of the State to ensure that no similar institutional immunity is ever allowed to occur again. This can be ensured only if all institutions are open to scrutiny and not accorded an exempted status by any organs of the State."

Continuous Communion

by Ed Hays on Nov. 25, 2009"Life is perpetual communion. First, you are constantly in communion with your feelings, thoughts, and yourself. Further, you are endlessly in communion with others in conscious and unconscious ways...Holy Communion is more than simply another religious ritual; it is the model for and the definition of all life. So ask yourself, “Am I self-excommunicated?”"

Friday, November 27, 2009

"Canon law, which favors abusers over abused, has contributed in a malign way. In future, there can be no ambiguity concerning criminal acts and church cover-ups that pervert the course of justice. These offences are equally unacceptable.Archbishop Diarmuid Martin is to be commended for making diocesan files available to the commission against the wishes of his predecessor. But a studied silence by Vatican authorities and by the Apostolic Nuncio to recent requests from the Murphy commission for any additional information they might hold concerning child sexual abuse in Dublin will feed suspicion that the church remains fixated on protecting its tattered image."

Read the complete Editorial in today's Irish Times regarding the latest reporton abuse by priests in Ireland. The Murphy report itself contains grim evidence ofan appalling legacy of abuse. If you want to read the Murphy Report, you'll find thelink on the RHS of the home page http://www.justice.ie/

Experts: Bishops covered up priests' child abuse

By SHAWN POGATCHNIKAssociated Press Writer

EXCERPT:

"Roman Catholic Church leaders in Dublin spent decades sheltering child-abusing priests from the law and most fellow clerics turned a blind eye, an investigation ordered by Ireland's government concluded Thursday. ... investigators found, successive archbishops and their senior deputies - among them qualified lawyers - already had compiled confidential files on more than 100 parish priests who had sexually abused children since 1940. Those files had remained locked in the Dublin archbishop's private vault."

My Comment:When will the Catholic family, the people of God, say "enough is enough"? This is our church! When will the people refuse to allow church leaders to cover up criminal activity of their clergy? When will the Irish state stop treating the Catholic church with deference?We, the people of God, are the church. All of us are equals by our baptism.It is our beloved family that has been torn apart by these clergy crimes and by the bishops' cover-ups.I hope the anger generated by this appalling cover-up by the Dublin hierarchy, will lead people of Ireland to a tipping point- a call to action.

What can be done?

We must change the clerical culture and empower the people of God in local communities with oversight review and decision-making power in the Roman Catholic Church. Christ calls all of us to be disciples to live the Gospel. Therefore, we are all co-responsible for the welfare of the Catholic family. In my view, it is also time to reclaim our ancient Celtic tradition of women priests and married priests in a more open, transparent, inclusive Catholic church, where all are welcome and all are accountable. Let us look to the partnership model set by St. Brigit and Bishop Conleth who co-administered the large Kildare monastic community. Bridget Mary Meehan, rcwpsofiabmm@aol.comwww.romancatholicwomenpriests.org

Roman Catholic Women Priests stand on the side of all of their Roman Catholic sisters and brothers who are being denied the Eucharist by their local bishops. The Eucharist is not a weapon that should be used by anyone to punish our sisters and brothers in Christ. To deny people the Eucharist is to deny them spiritual sustenance and food for their journey. It also denigrates the Body and Blood of Christ.

Jesus directed those who would follow him to forgive seventy times seven. As he wrote the sins of the righteous in the sand, Jesus stated unequivocally, “Let the person who is without sin cast the first sin.” Jesus, the One who lived among us as our Emmanuel, does not require protection from frail human beings, all of whom have fallen short of the glory of God. It is the Word of God and not the words of the bishops that we acknowledge at Mass.

RWCP requests that the American bishops cease and desist from fatally wounding the Body of Christ. We ask all people of good will to understand that best Christian practices do not include exclusion but rather love and forgiveness.

RCWP welcomes all people to the altar of God in their respective communities. You will be welcomed with hospitality and good will. Please check our website www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org for a community near you.

Article by Tom Fox, Nov. 24, 2009"There's been almost universal resistance," said one women religious familiar with the responses compiled by the congregation leaders. "We are saying 'enough!' In my 40 years in religious life I have never seen such unanimity.""Some of the women interviewed by NCR cite an irony involved in the investigation. One said that it is "unlikely the Vatican wanted us to come out of this being more confident of our identity as self-defining religious agents, but that is exactly what has happened."

Bridget Mary's Comment: The women religious stand on the prophetic edge as gutsy women, unafraid of speaking truth to power- this time to the oppressive power of the Vatican. Women religious are using their gifts to build a more just, peaceful world rooted in Gospel values-- whether or not the Vatican likes it. The people in the pews are with you! Thank you.Bridget Mary Meehan, rcwp

In her homily, Bishop Andrea Johnson reflected on this historical ordination:"This is a pivotal crossroads in Theresa’s life, and in the life of the Roman Catholic Church in New Hampshire. Theresa has come here to state publicly her submission to God’s call to ordination, and to offer her life in service to God’s people as an ordained minister, called forth from the community."

Today is a day of great joy for all of us as we gather to witness the ordination to the order of deacon of Theresa Novak Chabot. For Theresa, it is a day of fulfillment and of affirmation of a call she has been discerning over many years of listening to the voice of God in the many experiences and people she has encountered on her journey. It is equally a day of great promise for her ministry yet to come!

This is a pivotal crossroads in Theresa’s life, and in the life of the Roman Catholic Church in New Hampshire. Theresa has come here to state publicly her submission to God’s call to ordination, and to offer her life in service to God’s people as an ordained minister, called forth from the community.

Theresa has carefully chosen readings from the scriptures for today’s celebration of her yes to God. Her choice of Isaiah 61 confirms for us her clear understanding of her call to serve all God’s people, especially those who are marginalized or suffering. Theresa is clear about God’s abiding presence in all of the circumstances in her own life, and she is mindful that everything that has gone before has been for a purpose – preparing her for this day – and for moving forward in service. She is grateful that she has been blessed with many gifts to share. She feels particularly blessed to be called to serve the people of New Hampshire who, as God’s people everywhere, need to be welcomed into an inclusive and nurturing Catholic community. The meaning of anointing as described in Isaiah 61 is not lost on Theresa. She affirms it as nothing less than being chosen to effect the lifting up and empowerment of people. What a blessing her ordination offers to the Catholic community in New Hampshire!

I must tell you that we in Roman Catholic Womenpriests rejoice in Theresa’s ordination as much as you do. The empowerment of God’s people, particularly the most marginalized, is what our work within the Roman Catholic Church is all about. It is our heartsong! Roman Catholic Womenpriests is about singing a new song to our God – about singing a new church into being. For many years now, many in the Roman Catholic Church have recognized that the ordained ministry in our church has lacked integrity. Many wonderful women and men have prepared themselves, and have offered their gifts of pastoral ministry. But, they have had to “color within the lines” (i.e., accept the roles pre-determined for them by a patriarchal structure that, quite frankly, has been willing to use the gifts of women without offering them a share in the full sacramental and decision-making roles that rightly belong to pastoring). Pastoral ministers in the Roman Catholic Church – women and men – have been required to fulfill their calls within the structures mandated by decision-makers who represent only the viewpoint of ordained men. The initiative called Roman Catholic Womenpriests has intervened to challenge that process! In that light, I take particular delight in Theresa’s choice of gospel reading for today’s liturgy. This stunning passage about the woman with the flow of blood is all about challenging the ground rules! Throughout the gospels, typically a story of healing by Jesus involves Jesus laying hands on people who need healing. This alone was shocking to many, especially when women were involved. But this (quote/unquote unclean) woman took the initiative. She had the audacity to touch Jesus! Note that she also took responsibility for her action! Theresa chose this gospel reading because she clearly understands that she is taking the initiative in the face of stone-walling by the Roman Catholic authorities. She is taking the initiative to say yes to God’s call. Theresa clearly understands what she is undertaking by being ordained into Roman Catholic Womenpriests. She knows that in joining RCWP, she is moving from strategy into prophetic action – from waiting for God to make her path smooth and comfortable to accepting the pilgrim’s walk on the bumpy road, with all its attendant consequences.

Like Isaiah, Theresa understands her prophetic role as empowerer of God’s people. She leads by example! Like the hemorrhaging woman, Theresa is a bold and prophetic and faith-filled initiator of God’s reign of justice and peace. As Roman Catholic Womenpriests-USA, it is our joy to welcome her as a sister pilgrim on the way.

Let me close with Theresa’s own words in praise of our faithful and loving God, who never asks more of us than we can give:

Let me take the chance to climb the mountain, beginning at the base. I look up and cannot see the summit, but know it is there, For I have been called by God.

*********************

For the Spirit of God is upon me, and I state boldly, “Here I am.” Whatever else could I say? I have been called by God.

(Left to Right, Fr. Roy Bourgeois, Bishop Dana Reynolds, Janice Sevre-Duszynskaon Aug. 9, 2008 at Janice's priestly ordination)Father Roy Bourgeois and SOA Watch Nominated for the Nobel Peace PrizeFather Roy Bourgeois, MM, and School of the Americas Watch (SOA Watch) have been nominated for one of the most prestigious awards in the world - the Nobel Peace Prize - for their sustained faithful nonviolent witness against the disappearances, torture, and murder of hundreds of thousands of civilians (peasants, community and union organizers, clerics, missionaries, educators, and health workers) by foreign military personnel trained by the U.S. military at U.S. taxpayer expense at the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia.

The candidacy of Father Roy and SOA Watch for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize has been officially submitted to the Nobel Committee in Oslo, Norway by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. The official announcement was made by AFSC representative John Meyer on Sunday, November 22 at 9am at the gates of Fort Benning (home of the School of the Americas) during the annual November vigil to close the SOA.

"We are deeply honored, and deeply humbled, to be nominated for this prize for peace," commented Bourgeois, a Vietnam veteran, Purple Heart recipient and a Catholic priest, who helped found SOA Watch. "This nomination is a recognition of the work of the thousands struggling against militarism across the Americas."

SOA Watch is a nonviolent grassroots movement that works through creative protest and resistance, legislative and grassroots media work to stand in solidarity with the people of Latin America, to close the School of the Americas (renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation) and to change oppressive U.S. foreign policy that institutions like the SOA/ WHINSEC represent.

This weekend, SOA Watch is gathering by the thousands at the gates of Ft. Benning to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the killings of 14-year-old Celia Ramos, her mother Elba Ramos, and the six Jesuit priests she worked with at the Central American University in San Salvador in November 1989. Human rights defenders from Colombia and Bertha Oliva, founder of human rights organization COFADEH, Committee of Family Members of the Detained and Disappeared in Honduras, which has been actively resisting the SOA graduate-led coup as part of the resistance front.